Deadly attack in New York City branded ‘terrorism’ by authorities

Police investigate a pickup truck used in an attack on the West Side Highway in Manhattan, New York, U.S.,

By Gina Cherelus and Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK (Reuters) – An Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people in New York City by driving a rental truck down a riverfront bike path on Tuesday appeared to have acted alone in an attack that bore all the hallmarks of terrorism, authorities said.

The suspect, who was shot by police and arrested moments after the rampage in Lower Manhattan, left a note saying he carried out the attack in the name of the militant Islamic State group, the New York Times and CNN said.

The death toll was lower than from similar assaults in Spain in August and in France and Germany last year. However, it was still the bloodiest single attack on New York City since Sept. 11, 2001, when suicide hijackers crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center, killing more than 2,600 people.

The suspect allegedly swerved the pickup onto a path filled with pedestrians and bicyclists on a sunny, crisp autumn afternoon, mowing down everyone in his path before slamming into the side of a school bus.

The man then exited the vehicle brandishing what turned out to be a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun before a police officer shot him in the abdomen.

Multiple bikes are crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017.

Multiple bikes are crushed along a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York, NY, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

The attack, which left crumpled bicycles scattered along the path and victims writhing on the ground, was over in seconds.

In addition to the eight fatalities at least 11 people were hospitalized for injuries described as serious but not life-threatening. That excluded the suspect, who underwent surgery for gunshot wounds.

Police declined to publicly identify the man, but a source familiar with the investigation said his name was Sayfullo Saipov, 29. He reportedly lived in Paterson, New Jersey, a one-time industrial hub about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of lower Manhattan.

He had rented the pickup from a Home Depot hardware store which, according to media accounts, was located in Passaic, just south of Paterson.

First responders tend to a victim after a shooting incident in New York City

First responders tend to a victim after a shooting incident in New York City October 31, 2017.

ARGENTINE FRIENDS AMONG DEAD

Six victims were pronounced dead at the scene and two more at a nearby hospital, Police Commissioner James O’Neill said.

Five of the dead were Argentine tourists, visiting New York as part of a group of friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, the government there said. Belgium’s foreign minister said a Belgian citizen was also among those killed.

Despite the attack, thousands of costumed Halloween revelers turned out hours later for New York City’s main Halloween parade, which went on as scheduled on Tuesday night with a heightened police presence just a few blocks away.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said police will be out in force to protect the city’s marathon, which is scheduled for Sunday. “You’ll see a lot of officers with long guns. Other things you won’t see that are protecting us,” he told MSNBC.

A U.S. law enforcement official described the suspect as a U.S. immigrant born in Uzbekistan, a predominantly Muslim country in Central Asia that was once part of the former Soviet Union. CNN and NBC News said he entered the United States in 2010.

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said his government would do all it could to help investigate the “extremely brutal” attack.

Authorities late on Tuesday surrounded a house in Paterson where, according to the New York Times, Saipov was believed to have lived. Paterson, known for its large immigrant population, is home to about 150,000 people, including 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims.

ABC News reported that Saipov had lived in Tampa, Florida. A check of court records related to a traffic citation that Saipov received in eastern Pennsylvania in 2015 showed he listed addresses then in Paterson and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

CNN and other media outlets, citing police officials, reported that the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” – Arabic for “God is greatest” – when he jumped out of his truck.

Although authorities from the mayor’s office to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security all swiftly branded the attack an act of terrorism, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stressed that the suspect was believed to have acted alone.

The New York Times said investigators quickly recognized Saipov had come to the attention of law enforcement in the past. It cited three officials as saying federal authorities knew of Saipov from an unrelated probe, although it was unclear whether that was because he had ties to someone who was under scrutiny or because he was the target of an investigation.

A damaged school bus is seen at the scene of a pickup truck attack in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media.

A damaged school bus is seen at the scene of a pickup truck attack in Manhattan, New York, U.S., October 31, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media. Sebastian Sobczak via REUTERS

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence panel, told MSNBC in an interview that authorities were not aware of any other suspects, but that finding any such links would be a priority.

“It’s still I think far too early to say” whether the suspect was radicalized before he came to the United States years ago or shifted once he was already here, or acted on his own rather than at the behest of an organized group, he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pressed for a ban on travelers entering the United States from some predominantly Muslim countries, said on Twitter that he had ordered Homeland Security officials to “step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!”

He also criticized the U.S. visa system, blaming Democrats and saying that he wanted a ‘merit based’ program for immigrants to the United States.

 

 

(Reporting by Dan Trotta and Gina Cherelus in New York; Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen, Anna Driver and Barbara Goldberg in New York, Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles, Mark Hosenball and Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Paul Tait and Chizu Nomiyama)

 

The Restoration Marathon Continues with Old Friends and New!

By Kami Klein

What an incredible time we are having at Morningside! It is week two of our Restoration Marathon, our 24 hour-a-day, all week live stream event on Roku, Apple TV, and our website!  Pastor Jim was faithful to God and worked incredibly hard to get people out to vote this year for the election!  He brought in leaders of this country and within the church to help us all understand the issues and the challenges! With your help, we now have a praying leader in office!  But, while we focused so hard on these historic events for our country, the business of raising money to stay on the air had to fall second. While Pastor Jim and Lori are resting (doctor’s orders), we are coming together on a true spirit of faith to raise up the funds and catch up on the bills!  

Television station time is truly expensive, and we don’t want to stop the growth of this ministry! Now, more than at any other so far, is the time to hear our prophets and leaders of the church.  Now is the time of the greatest harvest!!

When word got out that we were having this marathon, old and new friends of Pastor Jim and Morningside began coming in for support!  This week, Philip Cameron, as well as his family and friends will be here throughout the day and  leading evening services Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Philip will be bringing special guests with him including founder of the Fivestarman movement, Neil Kennedy, on Tuesday evening and international Christian Evangelist and author, Pat Schalzline, on Wednesday! Don’t forget: this is ALL happening LIVE!  

Thursday and Friday the dynamic Bishop Ron Webb will be leading evening services joined by Director of House on the Rock Ministries, John Kiehl and Pastor Waylon Hopper. Seychelle’s Carl Palmer is also coming this week to offer support as well as our very own Harmony, Caleb and Marcey with some good, soul-lifting praise music!

We are clearing out our warehouse during this event with some popular and never before seen offers!  If these are items you need and want, now is the time to give your gift to this ministry. But, so many are also choosing our Thanksgiving offer.  If you have been blessed by our programing, if you appreciate the messages from these outstanding teachers and prophets that have been brought on our show or even if you, like many of us, have been touched by Jim and Lori Bakker’s story and faithfulness, perhaps you will consider a Thanksgiving donation of any amount to help us!  The Bakker’s Story is a powerful one of Restoration that comes from saying YES to God and reminds us to keep going, no matter how impossible it seems.  We Give Glory to God for ALL of the blessings of this ministry.  We thank God for YOU!

Please tune in to Morningside’s Restoration Marathon on Watch Us Live look for Facebook live posts on The Jim Bakker Show Facebook page and donate here to bless this ministry.  Morningside Restoration Marathon   

Thank you for all you do to keep God’s message going throughout the world!  

 

 

 

Welcome to the Morningside Restoration Marathon!

 

 

We are SO excited!!  The Morningside Restoration Marathon Telethon began this morning with a 2.5 million dollar goal to pay off our stations so that we may stay on the air to continue presenting you with amazing guests that are truly making a difference!  Here you will find Biblical teaching that is REAL.  We are hearing from you and know how much you are enjoying the guests and the teaching that is being brought to you.    

 

We will be here on the live stream 24 hours a day 7 days a week with some of our favorite friends to the ministry, Praising God and being together!

 

We have some amazing offers on our live feed and through our webstore.  

Here are just a few:

 

REDUCED!!!!  Our  440 WATT PORTABLE FUEL LESS GENERATOR:  $450 CLOSE OUT! This are the last of these incredible portable generator at a fantastic price!  

 

Another is for our favorite, healthy case of coconut oil for just $20!  

 

You may even think about giving a gift for our Thanksgiving offer.  This is an offering of Thanksgiving in celebration for all that God has done for this nation, for Morningside and for the entire Bakker family!  This donation can be any amount.  If you want to give a dollar or a thousand we thank you for that blessing!  We believe that God still wants us to be on the air, still spreading the gospel, and allowing the prophets He has sent to us to speak.  

 

Pastor Jim Bakker and Lori Bakker have been blessed with Restoration by our truly Loving God.   This ministry and Morningside has become a treasured part of this community and a haven for Christians who are making this their home. The Jim Bakker Show has become known as an End Times Ministry with great heart!  Morningside has proven time and again that we are here for anyone who needs us.  

 

Now we need YOU!!


Join Tammy Sue, Sasha, Zach, The Morningside Band, Harmony, Caleb the rest of the team along with some fantastic guests… just pop on anytime, and we will be here! Tonight Michael 
Snyder will be hosting our Prophets Speak series!   

Join us HERE.  You can also watch on Roku or Apple TV on the PTL Television Network.